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Following the annual general meeting (AGM) on January 16, the new BATA Council met for the first time to appoint officers and start planning for the year ahead. We welcomed Myles Pilling as our new Council member.
Mark McCusker was persuaded to continue as Chair for a third year and Noel Duffy agreed to serve a second year as Treasurer. Terry Waller continues as co-opted Secretary. The post of Membership Officer remains vacant for the moment, following the resignation of Martin Littler, but the work it entails is being covered by John Lamb and Noel for the time being.
As well as discussing progress on DSA issues affecting AT suppliers, we heard from Abi James (see below) about changes to how AT may be used in school examinations and considered our priorities for action and campaigning in the year ahead: more about those to come in future newsletters.
Barbara Phillips, Executive Director |
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Never been a greater need for BATA, Mark McCusker tells AGM |
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BATA must push forward,” said Mark McCusker addressing the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) on January 16. “What we have is a perfect storm of disruption and hence there has never been a greater need for BATA,” he told members at the AGM held in central London.
Mark pointed out that that research firm Gartner forecast that by 2018, only 0.01% of apps would make money for developers. The market was also moving towards commodity pricing for products that fundamentally are not commodities, he added.
“This is a very significant issue for BATA. We have two challenges: to help the government funding bodies to understand that AT is not a commodity and to ensure that our own members understand the dangers of commodity pricing.”
Read Mark’s speech in full here |
Mark McCusker |
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A record of achievement, Barbara Phillips reports |
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At the end of 2013 BATA had 88 members, reported Executive Director Barbara Phillips CBE at our recent AGM. They included most of the leading British suppliers of AT products and services, many accessibility and disability charities and professionals, as well as individual AT users and carers. All members now have equal rights to nominate and elect Council members and to serve on Council. There are also more than 1,000 non-voting subscribers for our free e-Newsletter.
Read Barbara’s speech in full here |
Barbara Phillips |
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Webinar on new standards for accessible exam formats |
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Last year, a change in access arrangements for GCSE, A-level and vocational qualification allowed computer readers (text-to-speech and screen reader tools) to be used by candidates in all exams, including those assessing reading.
Examination boards will now allow schools to order PDF versions for candidates through the modified paper system. Please ensure your schools and contacts are aware of this important change to the regulations.
A number of organisations including UK Alternative and Accessible Formats (UKAFF), RNIB and the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) are working to ensure these PDF files are compatible with assistive technology. Standards and guidelines on the production of PDF for use in exams is currently being drafted. BATA is keen that schools are aware of the latest developments and is planning a webinar to raise awareness of the standards.
If you would like further information on this draft standard please contact Abi James of the BDA New Technologies Committee, abi@assistivelearning.co.uk |
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AT required for local schools in France |
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UK Trade and Industry has alerted us to a tender by a local French authority calling for assistive technologies for education, notably Braille equipment, text-to-speech software and other multimedia peripherals.
Further details of the tender are available here |
Eiffel Tower |
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